The Miami Hurricanes’ 2018 football schedule was announced Wednesday, and now they know what they will be up against.

As the Hurricanes look to defend their Coastal Division crown, they’ll find themselves hosting a longtime rival and traveling to face conference foes eager to end their reign atop the division. The Hurricanes also will open the season against a traditionally strong SEC power in a game that is expected to give Miami a good look early at where it stands.

One challenge the Hurricanes will face? If they want to get back to the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game, they’ll have to play well on the road late. Miami will close the season playing four of its last six conference games on the road, including a crucial Nov. 17 game at Virginia Tech.

The Hurricanes first chance to erase the memories of their three-game losing streak that ended 2017 will come against a big-name opponent on a big-name stage. Miami will travel to Arlington, Texas to open the season against LSU in the Advocare Classic. Longtime Miami fans will be hoping the current Hurricanes can avenge an ugly loss the last time these two met, a 40-3 LSU win in the 2005 Peach Bowl that was marred by a game-ending brawl. It was the precursor to staff changes under then-coach Larry Coker. LSU owns a 9-3 lead in the all-time series, including a 1-0 lead in neutral-site games.

Sept. 8, vs. Savannah State

The last time Miami faced Savannah State, the Hurricanes were coming off another emotional SEC game, a 21-16 win over Florida in 2013. Two weeks later, Miami hosted the Tigers and dominated, setting a school record for points scored and margin of victory in a 77-7 win. That night, the Hurricanes were such a force then UM coach Al Golden and former Savannah State coach Earnest Wilson III agreed to play a shortened fourth quarter. Odds are, the Hurricanes will dominate this one. Again.

Sept. 15, at Toledo

Last season’s game against the Rockets marked the end of a 21-day layover for the Hurricanes, who were displaced after Hurricane Irma affected South Florida. And early on, Miami looked rusty against the Rockets and quarterback Logan Woodside, who finished the day throwing for 342 yards. But the Hurricanes rallied in the second half behind a 200-yard performance from Mark Walton and eventually got a 52-30 win. The Hurricanes lead the all-time series 2-0 and will be making their first visit to Toledo.

Sept. 22, vs. FIU

The storylines for this one kind of write themselves, no? The Hurricanes and Panthers, now coached by former UM coach Butch Davis, will renew their South Florida rivalry for the first time since 2007. Miami holds a 2-0 lead in the short series history, and most college football fans will remember the two teams’ initial meeting in 2006, when a benches-clearing brawl made national headlines. The Hurricanes went on to win that game 35-0 and handed FIU a 23-9 defeat a year later. Under Davis last season, the Panthers went 8-5, ending the year with a 28-3 loss to Temple in the Big Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl in St. Petersburg.

Sept 27, North Carolina (Thursday)

The last meeting is one the Hurricanes likely want to forget. Miami traveled to Chapel Hill last year a big favorite against the struggling Tar Heels and needed to hold off a late UNC push to escape with a 24-19 win. Malik Rosier was briefly injured in the game, leaving for as series after getting hit in the shoulder. The quarterback later revealed the injury bothered him for much of the regular season. He finished the day 23-of-37 for a career-high 356 yards and three touchdowns. This will be another key Coastal Division game for Miami if it wants to get back to Charlotte and play for the ACC title.

Last season, in a thriller, the Hurricanes snapped a seven-game losing streak against the rival Seminoles with Darrell Langham’s last-second touchdown grab lifting Miami to an emotional 24-20 win over FSU. The next step for Miami in one of college football’s storied rivalries? Beating the Seminoles at home. The Hurricanes haven’t managed that since a 16-10 overtime win in 2004, when both Miami and FSU were top-five teams. The Hurricanes lead the all-time series against FSU 32-30, but FSU owns a 20-16 lead in games played on the Hurricanes’ home turf. Miami’s going to look to cut into that.

Oct. 13 at Virginia

The second Coastal Division game on Miami’s schedule pits the Hurricanes against an opponent they’ve done well against in recent seasons. Since falling to Virginia in Charlottesville in 2014, the Hurricanes have won three in a row against the Cavaliers, including a 44-28 win last season. In that game, Miami rallied from a 14-point first-quarter deficit to extend its win streak to 15 games dating back to 2016. One bit of encouraging news for the Hurricanes in this one? They won’t have to face departed quarterback Kurt Benkert, who threw for 384 yards in Virginia’s loss last year.

Oct. 26 at Boston College (Friday)

Remember Ed Reed’s memorable touchdown against Boston College that helped Miami avoid a momentous upset in Chapel Hill in 2001? The Hurricanes – and cornerbacks coach Mike Rumph, who was on the field for that play – will return to where that play unfolded for a rare game against an old Big East rival. The Hurricanes own a 24-5 series lead in games against the Eagles and will be making their first visit to Boston College since a 41-32 win over the Eagles in 2012. Boston College is coming off a 7-6 season in which it went 2-4 at home.

Nov. 3, Duke

After a 48-30 loss to the Blue Devils in Durham, the Hurricanes have dominated against Duke, winning four straight and outscoring the Blue Devils 71-27 in the past two meetings. In 2017, Miami opened ACC play in Durham, jumped to a quick 14-0 lead and never looked back. Miami’s defense held the Blue Devils — then winners of four straight — to just two first-half field goals, while the Hurricanes totaled 409 yards of offense in the 31-6 win. Miami leads the all-time series 13-2, including a 6-1 mark in Miami.

Nov. 10 at Georgia Tech

Like the rival Seminoles, the Yellow Jackets will be looking to avenge a last-second loss to the Hurricanes. In their 2017 matchup, Malik Rosier led Miami downfield in the game’s final seconds with Darrell Langham making a key catch on fourth-and-10 that extended the Hurricanes’ drive and helped set up Michael Badgley’s 24-yard game-winning field goal. And with the Hurricanes traveling to Atlanta, expect to see a few extra Miami – and Mark Richt – fans in the stands. This game will be Richt’s second in Georgia since he left the Bulldogs program and took over at Miami.

Nov. 17 at Virginia Tech

The Hokies and Hurricanes have long been considered two of the top teams in the Coastal Division, and this game could go a long way in deciding who wins the division championship, even if the Hokies are losing an expected 10 starters. Last season, Miami jumped to a 14-0 lead over the Hokies and never looked back, thanks in part to a dominant performance from the Hurricanes defense. Miami forced four turnovers in the win and held the Hokies to just one touchdown in an eventual 28-10 win over then 13th-ranked Virginia Tech. Miami holds a 21-14 lead in the all-time series and has won three of the past four against the Hokies.

Nov. 24, Pittsburgh

In November, the Hurricanes rolled into Pittsburgh ranked No. 2 in the College Football Playoffs and looking to finish an undefeated regular season for the first time since 2002. Instead, the unranked, sub-.500 Panthers stunned the Hurricanes 24-14. That loss started Miami’s three-game slide to end the year and knocked one of their top playmakers — tight end Christopher Herndon — out for their two postseason games. Miami will look for redemption in this one and could have to contend again with Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett. Pickett, a rising sophomore, made his first start that day and went 18-of-29 for 193 yards. He ran for another 60 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown in the fourth that virtually put the game out of reach for Miami. This one might feel a little personal for the returning Hurricanes.

Hurricanes running back Travis Homer discusses some of the work he and his teammates are putting in during the offseason ahead of Miami's Sept. 2 opener against LSU.

Hurricanes running back Travis Homer discusses some of the work he and his teammates are putting in during the offseason ahead of Miami's Sept. 2 opener against LSU.

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Hurricanes running back Travis Homer discusses some of the work he and his teammates are putting in during the offseason ahead of Miami's Sept. 2 opener against LSU.

Hurricanes running back Travis Homer discusses some of the work he and his teammates are putting in during the offseason ahead of Miami's Sept. 2 opener against LSU.

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Hurricanes cornerback Michael Jackson talks LSU, more during a community outreach at Tucker Elementary School on Wednesday afternoon.

Hurricanes cornerback Michael Jackson talks LSU, more during a community outreach at Tucker Elementary School on Wednesday afternoon.

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Hurricanes baseball coach Jim Morris talks about Miami's upcoming trip to the ACC Tournament. To advance to the NCAA Tournament, Miami likely needs to win every game in Durham, or at the least, Morris says, advance to the ACC Tournament championship game.

Hurricanes baseball coach Jim Morris talks about Miami's upcoming trip to the ACC Tournament. To advance to the NCAA Tournament, Miami likely needs to win every game in Durham, or at the least, Morris says, advance to the ACC Tournament championship game.

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Former St. Thomas Aquinas standout Al Blades Jr. discusses his decision to attend Miami, the school where his late father once starred.

Former St. Thomas Aquinas standout Al Blades Jr. discusses his decision to attend Miami, the school where his late father once starred.

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UM baseball coach Jim Morris reacts after the pregame ceremony celebrating his career and completing his final regular season as UM baseball coach.

UM baseball coach Jim Morris reacts after the pregame ceremony celebrating his career and completing his final regular season as UM baseball coach.